photo credit: Heather Lantz
With the highly anticipated release of her 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl”, Taylor Swift has restored order to the pop universe, once again placing herself at the very center of it after 17 months of no new releases.
On Aug. 12, Swift took to Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast New Heights to announce the new record after a series of cryptic Instagram posts and an orange colored count-down clock on her official website, set to end at 12:12 a.m. on the day she announced the album.
Fans rejoiced at the prospect of new music from Swift and eagerly awaited the release. One of those excited fans was junior Claire Odhe. Having been a fan for as long as she can remember, Claire’s loyalty to Taylor goes beyond just listening to her music.
“I have been listening to Taylor Swift all my life,” Odhe said. “I was very surprised when I found out she was releasing something brand-new, but obviously I was ecstatic to hear about it!”
Despite the excitement of many fans, Taylor’s transition back into the spotlight brings on the age-old debates from Swift’s harsh critics that doubt her legitimacy as an artist. These criticisms are far from new, as her ability as a song-writer, producer and business woman have been questioned since the day she entered the industry.
In addition to being a die-hard Swiftie, Heather Lantz is the executive secretary of the Communications Department for Olentangy Schools, and is irritated by Swift’s doubters.
“Taylor Swift has proven herself to be more than just a pop star. She is a true lyricist and in many ways, a poet,” Lantz said. “Whether she’s telling intimate stories of heartbreak or weaving sharp social commentary into her songs, her ability to capture emotion and detail shows a deep understanding of language and the human experience.”
In her songwriting, Swift is known for her poetry-like lyrics that display emotion, vulnerability and vivid storytelling. This raw display of honesty makes her music relatable to many and is a clear display of why her music is so appealing.
The story-telling element that her music brings to the table also is another reason as to why her music is so intriguing.
“She is a poet that sets her words to a tune,” Lantz said. “Her songs feel like mini novels or stories set to a melody, and her poetic writing paints a picture in the listener’s mind with vivid imagery that conjures an entire mood in just a few words.”
In regards to “The Life of a Showgirl”, the album was produced by pop-music masterminds Max Martin and Shellback whom Taylor has worked with before on some of her other albums such as “Red”, “1989” and “Reputation”.
These producers, being featured on the album, have led many to believe that Swift’s new record is going to have more pop influences compared to some of her recent albums like “The Tortured Poets Department” or “Folklore”. This fact is also leaving haters questioning if Swift can produce a pop album while still incorporating the lyricism many put her on a pedestal for.
“Taylor Swift is more than capable of producing an album with strong mainstream pop influences while still maintaining lyrical depth. This balance is something she’s already demonstrated in past works like “Reputation” and “Lover”,” Lantz said. “Her past collaborations with the renowned Max Martin and Shellback led to some of her most successful and lyrically rich songs, proving she can thrive in the pop landscape without compromising herself as a songwriter,”
Whether you believe that Taylor Swift is a revolutionary artist or not, it is undeniable that she has transformed the music industry and established herself as one of the most successful and influential singer/songwriters of our generation.
Love her or hate her, Swift is here to stay and “The Life of a Showgirl” is her latest manifestation of the talent she still has to offer and the dedication she has to her craft.
“Taylor has helped me build my confidence since I was a kid and is a big inspiration to me,” Odhe said. “There will always be haters out there, but I think this album is going to show how powerful she and her music are.”
